Sarah McLachlan appeared as the musical guest on Jimmy Kimmel Live! on September 23, 2025. This marked the late-night show's return to air after ABC temporarily suspended it. The suspension followed comments made by host Jimmy Kimmel regarding the death of right-wing political commentator Charlie Kirk.
McLachlan's appearance came just days after she canceled a planned performance at the premiere event for the documentary Lilith Fair: Building a Mystery. Her cancellation was made "in solidarity in support of free speech," a statement she made without directly naming Kimmel or the specific incident.
Key Takeaways
- Jimmy Kimmel Live! returned to ABC on September 23, 2025.
- Sarah McLachlan was the musical guest, performing a new song.
- The show had been suspended for nearly a week due to host Jimmy Kimmel's comments on Charlie Kirk's death.
- McLachlan previously canceled a documentary premiere performance, citing support for free speech.
- The Walt Disney Company, owner of ABC, issued a statement on the show's return.
Kimmel's Return and McLachlan's Performance
On Tuesday, September 23, 2025, Jimmy Kimmel Live! aired its first episode in nearly a week. The show had been suspended by ABC after its host, Jimmy Kimmel, discussed the assassination of Charlie Kirk and President Trump's reaction. Grammy winner Sarah McLachlan, 57, served as the musical guest for this significant return episode.
McLachlan performed the title track from her tenth studio album, Better Broken. She played the piano during her performance. The segment concluded immediately before a commercial break. McLachlan did not offer any spoken remarks during her appearance, only performing her song.
"Last Wednesday, we made the decision to suspend production on the show to avoid further inflaming a tense situation at an emotional moment for our country. It is a decision we made because we felt some of the comments were ill-timed and thus insensitive."
After the commercial, Jimmy Kimmel thanked both McLachlan and fellow guest Glen Powell. He acknowledged them as his first guests following the show's suspension. Kimmel then light-heartedly joked, "I think we'll see you tomorrow, goodnight!" before the credits rolled.
Quick Fact
Sarah McLachlan's tenth studio album, Better Broken, is currently being promoted. She also appears in the new documentary Lilith Fair: Building a Mystery.
The Suspension of Jimmy Kimmel Live!
ABC pulled Jimmy Kimmel Live! off the air on September 17. This decision came after Nexstar Media and Sinclair, which together own 63 of ABC's 205 affiliate stations, stated they would not broadcast the show. Their refusal stemmed from Kimmel's comments following the death of right-wing political commentator Charlie Kirk.
Charlie Kirk was shot and killed while speaking in Utah on September 10. During the Monday, September 15 episode of Jimmy Kimmel Live!, Kimmel, 57, addressed the incident. He criticized what he described as attempts to politicize Kirk's death.
Kimmel stated, "We hit some new lows over the weekend with the MAGA gang desperately trying to characterize this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them and doing everything they can to score political points from it. In between the finger-pointing, there was grieving.”
Background on Charlie Kirk's Death
Charlie Kirk, a prominent right-wing political commentator, was shot and killed on September 10, 2025, while giving a speech in Utah. His death sparked widespread discussion and political reactions across various media platforms.
During the episode, Kimmel showed clips of President Donald Trump being asked about Kirk's death. President Trump indicated he was doing "very good" and then shifted the conversation to a new ballroom under construction at the White House. Kimmel responded to these clips, saying, “Yes, he’s at the fourth stage of grief, construction. This is not how an adult grieves the murder of someone he called a friend. This is how a 4-year-old mourns a goldfish, okay?”
Before this controversial episode aired, Kimmel had posted condolences on social media. He wrote, "Instead of the angry finger-pointing, can we just for one day agree that it is horrible and monstrous to shoot another human? On behalf of my family, we send love to the Kirks and to all the children, parents and innocents who fall victim to senseless gun violence."
Disney's Statement and Show's Return
The Walt Disney Company, ABC's parent company, issued a statement on Monday, September 22. This statement confirmed that Jimmy Kimmel Live! would return to air the following day, September 23. The company explained its decision to suspend the show.
According to the statement, "Last Wednesday, we made the decision to suspend production on the show to avoid further inflaming a tense situation at an emotional moment for our country. It is a decision we made because we felt some of the comments were ill-timed and thus insensitive."
The statement also highlighted the discussions held with Kimmel. "We have spent the last days having thoughtful conversations with Jimmy, and after those conversations, we reached the decision to return the show on Tuesday." This indicates a period of dialogue between the network and its host before the show's reinstatement.
McLachlan's Stance on Free Speech
Sarah McLachlan's performance on Jimmy Kimmel Live! occurred shortly after she withdrew from another high-profile event. She canceled her performance at the Los Angeles premiere of the Lilith Fair documentary. This documentary, titled Lilith Fair: Building a Mystery, chronicles the all-female touring festival McLachlan founded in the 1990s.
The documentary is available for streaming on Hulu and Disney+. It is distributed by ABC News Studios, all of which are owned by Disney, the same parent company that suspended Jimmy Kimmel Live! This connection highlights the complex media landscape involved in the situation.
- Documentary Details: Lilith Fair: Building a Mystery
- Streaming Platforms: Hulu, Disney+
- Distributor: ABC News Studios (owned by Disney)
- McLachlan's Role: Founder of Lilith Fair, appears in documentary
At the premiere event where she canceled her performance, McLachlan addressed the audience. She explained that several artists had chosen not to perform "but instead to stand in solidarity in support of free speech." McLachlan did not specifically mention Kimmel or the show's suspension by name, according to video shared by The Hollywood Reporter.
McLachlan, who was not a producer on the documentary, shared her thoughts on the broader situation. She told the crowd, “It’s a gift for all of us to see [this film], but also I’ve grappled with being here tonight and around what to say about the present situation that we are all faced with, the stark contraction to the many advances we’ve made watching the insidious erosion of women’s rights, of trans and queer rights, the muzzling of free speech.”
She concluded her remarks by emphasizing the need for progress. "I think we’re all fearful for what comes next, and none of us know, but what I do know is that I have to keep pushing forward as an artist, as a woman, to find a way through, and though I don’t begin to know what the answer is, I believe we all need to work towards a softening to let in the possibility of a better way, because I see music as a bridge to our shared humanity, to finding common ground.”
Jimmy Kimmel Live! airs weeknights at 11:35 p.m. ET on ABC.